NEW MILFORD -- A man is locked up in Susquehanna County, accused of strangling his own mother.
State police say the homicide happened inside an apartment house on Washington Street.
According to troopers, Benjamin Ball, 26, of New Milford, strangled his mother inside the home Wednesday morning, and then asked a friend to help him cover it up.
According to court papers, Benjamin Ball was arguing with his mother and began strangling her. He stopped, but then the arguing continued
Troopers say Ball eventually killed his mother Lisa Ball, 52.
Neighbor Ruth Donnelly says arguing was often heard coming from the corner of Washington Street where the mother and son lived.
"Fighting, swearing, on almost a daily basis."
Gary Boughton works about a block down the street. He would often walk by, and hear arguments, too.
"He would come out of the house every once in a while yelling and screaming. He punched his car a couple times," Boughton recalled.
Troopers say after Ball strangled his mother, he went to a friend's house and asked for help covering up the crime.
That man decided to alert state police instead. Troopers then searched Ball's apartment. They took him in for questioning but couldn't find the victim immediately.
According to court papers, troopers finally found the victim inside a tote box with a padlock on it, but by the time they were able to locate her, she was already dead.
"Can't get much colder than that, not from your own mother, no," said New Milford resident Walter Sherwood.
Troopers say Ball gave them two versions of what happened, first denying he was involved, then eventually telling them that an argument sparked it all.
Words of sympathy from friends and former coworkers cover Lisa Ball's Facebook page.
Folks stopping at the nearby post office say a crime like this in their community is surprising.
"It just happens so close you know, it's hard to believe, just hard to believe," said Barbara Diamond of Hallstead.
"One would hope that drugs or something was to account for it, that just a normal person wouldn't do that," Donnelly added.
Benjamin Ball is locked up in Susquehanna County without bail.
He is scheduled to be in court later this month.